Burge Slams Chicago Torture Payouts
CHICAGO (AP) -- Disgraced Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge says he finds it hard to believe the city is establishing a fund to compensate alleged victims of torture by him and his officers.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports Burge confirmed he told a blogger he has trouble believing city leaders would even contemplate giving reparations to "human vermin" like the "guilty, vicious criminals" he tried to take off the streets. The Sun-Times said Burge refused to comment beyond confirming his statements.
Chicago's City Council, with Mayor Rahm Emanuel's support, this week proposed a $5.5 million "reparations" fund for torture victims.
Burge was never criminally charged, but was convicted in a civil case of lying about torture. He was released from a halfway house in February after serving 4 1/2 years in prison.
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